Author: Maddy

Pink is the new red this holiday season! No matter who’s on your nice list this Christmas, there is a (pinkly) perfect little something for everyone at pinklyperfect.com. Check out our recs below!

If you’re shopping for your…

Secret Santa

Secret Santa gifts have to be small enough to stash in a locker, which is why our XOXO bracelet ($20) tucked inside a You’re Perfect Cosmetic Bag ($20) is ideal! Maybe even make it a little creative and write a note that says all the gifts going forward will be placed in the bag. It’s sparkly and festive and just perfect for cheering up your friend’s school day!

If you’re shopping for your…

Teacher

Let’s be real—your teacher does not need another Starbucks gift card and bundle of homemade cookies this year! Instead, opt for Pinkly Perfect’s Montauk Tote ($26) in “Pining for Vacation” paired with an Avalon Sweatshirt in Navy ($48) that reads “Peace Love Wine Vacation.” Chances are she’ll love how unique it is and maybe even inspire her to plan her summer vacation early this year.

If you’re shopping for your…

Beachy Bestie

Your beachy bestie will be so grateful for anything from Pinkly Perfect! Depending on her beach town of choice, pick up a Coordinate Keychain ($18) and pair with an Avalon Sweatshirt ($48) that reads “My kind of tree has coconuts” along with a Beach Sickness Card ($6). She will love the personalization and the memories of her favorite seaside oasis this winter.

If you’re shopping for your…

Mom

Ever wake up on Christmas morning and realize you forgot to put something in your mom’s stocking? Been there. Regretted that. Our Pinkly Perfect leather bracelets are the perfect stocking stuffer this year! While you can’t go wrong with any, we think your mom would appreciate the one size fits most BOSS bracelet ($24) paired with a LOVE Bracelet ($20), which also benefits breastcancer.org.

Instead of simply looking forward to cozying up with hot chocolate and Love Actually while surrounded by the smell of pine and freshly baked gingerbread men this holiday season, focus on helping those people who need more than just gifts and cheer this year. One (easy) way to incorporate more philanthropy into your Christmas routine is by shopping for presents that also give back.

We recently partnered with Gingy’s Boutique in Malvern, PA to create a line of inspirational bracelets featuring words such as XOXO, LOVE, STRENGTH, and HOPE. Not only are these bracelets adorable, but they also give back. For every sale, we are donating 20% to breastcancer.org.

These one size fits most bracelets come in a variety of vibrant colors and are perfect to stash in a stocking this Christmas Eve for someone you love. Shop them all at Gingy’s or at pinklyperfect.com.

Being your best self starts with having the best day, every day – and that includes Mondays. But how do you start when even getting out of bed feels like a chore? Easy! You just need some #motivation. Check out our picks below for ways to make Monday your new favorite day of the week:

Waking up to coffee in a cute mug can make any morning brighter – even a Monday morning! (And if, on a dark, snowy Monday morning this winter, you actually do have cake for breakfast, well… we won’t tell.)

Sometimes, the absolute last thing you want to do on a Monday is work. When that happens, we suggest pulling out this adorably pink pencil set to remind yourself that even though work isn’t awesome, you look awesome doing it. So go do it!

To-do lists are a way of life, but on a Monday, they can feel overwhelming. Make your to-do list fun again by using this pretty notepad, which already has boxes for every task, so you can check them off and get that satisfying “Done!” feeling as you go. Hint: For best results, combine with the pencil set!

Working out on a Monday morning? Do people actually do that?! Apparently, they do, and you can, too! Except you get to wear these cute yoga pants and get tons of compliments at the gym, while everyone else… Good luck with that.

If there’s a more girl-friendly gym bag, we haven’t found it yet! This duffle is big enough for all of your workout stuff but small enough to carry with you everywhere you go, and it even has a hole for your earbuds to go through, so you never have to be without your motivational playlist again. Another set of reps? Yes, please!

Holiday season is (somehow) upon us! Whether you’re packing up your dorm to head home for a long break or simply sneaking away from the city to enjoy some turkey and pumpkin pie with your parents, a stylish and affordable luggage set is a must-have for holiday travel. And as always, don’t settle for anything less than pink!

This lightweight carry-on in the prettiest rose gold features a sleek hard shell exterior and multi-directional spinner. Zippered divider on the inside for ideal organizing along with an integrated TSA lock makes this luggage perfect for keeping calm during a normally hectic ordeal. Owned and tested (and LOVED) IRL by yours truly!

If money’s less of a concern, take a peek at this beautiful floral suitcase from Ted Baker. Meeting most domestic and international carry-on size requirements, this 360-degree wheeler is both stunning and perfect for a winter weekend getaway. Also includes Ted Baker signature print interior lining and will certainly stand out from a busy airport crowd!

Have no fear, a deal is here! Originally $400, this DVF bright pink with tan accent 28” spinner is now for sale for $139.97. Featuring a two-way zip closure and interior mesh zip wall compartment with adjustable garment straps, this “beet” color suitcase will guarantee easy visibility and high style.

Regardless of what set you purchase (or put on your wish-list for Santa!), make sure you have a durable cosmetic bag to keep your holiday wardrobe free of makeup stains or shampoo spills while traveling through airport security. Not into an entirely pink luggage set? No problem! Pick up an eye catching luggage tag like this one from ban.dōfor easy identification.

Halloween’s not just about dressing in costume and trading fun-sized Milky Ways with your besties. If you’re wiped from going out over Halloweekend and are aiming for a spooky night in instead of trick-or-treating, check out these easy, pink recipes you can make at home to both delight and fright your guests of “horror.” 😉

Zombie Brain Cupcakes:

Brain cupcakes are SO easy! Simply make your favorite cupcake (any flavor will work perfectly), whip up a pink frosting and apply in a “brain” pattern on top. You’ll need an icing set like this one from Bed Bath & Beyond. Use the picture above from Shutterstock for inspiration.

“Pink Eye” Martinis:

Got an over-21 crowd coming over for a scary movie marathon? If so, pour some “pink eye” martinis. They’re your standard martini recipe (vodka and dry vermouth) but the glass is rimmed in pink sugar. Use a melon baller to scoop out watermelon balls and toss in glass. If you really want to scare your friends, add a fake spider hanging from the rim as well!

Day of the Dead Skull Sugar Cookies:

Skull cookie photo from Pinterest.

If Day of the Dead is more your speed, make some pink skull cookies to munch on in between answering the doorbell to trick-or-treaters. Use any sugar cookie recipe you love, a skull cookie cutter, and different color icings or edible markers to pink-ify a perfect skull. If you’re having friends over for a more interactive occasion, have them each decorate their own and add in various sprinkles, edible glitter, and candy corn.

Monster Rice Krispie Treats:

Picture of monster rice krispie treats from One Little Project.

Follow this recipe from One Little Project for the cutest (and most delicious) monster inspired rice krispie treats! Don’t forget the pink candy melts and edible eyes to make these pinkly perfect. 🙂

Shore season may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for next year! I’m Lauren and I run the food Instagram @love_phillyfood. I started my account about three years ago and post food from wherever I am, which is mostly Philadelphia, its suburbs and Avalon, NJ. I have grown up going to Avalon and it’s one of my absolute favorite places. I am here to share 5 of my favorite places to eat while down the shore.

Sundae Best: You can’t beat homemade ice cream, especially when there are TONS of flavors to choose from. Sundae best offers the best of the best. When I’m down the shore I eat ice cream so much, it’s probably not normal. My favorite flavors here are: mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, chocolate malt crunch yogurt, chocolate peanut butter and french silk (which I just discovered this year, so good! It’s a mocha mousse ice cream with chocolate chips—yum!) Ice cream always looks more photogenic in a cone, so I typically order it in one, take the pics, and then get a cup on the side so it doesn’t melt!

Fishin’ Pier Grille: The Fishin’ Pier is a staple in Avalon. I have been going here my entire life. We were known as the bagel kids for years because my cousins and I would sit on their boardwalk bench and each order a bagel and lemonade. The restaurant is run by the nicest family and they have the BEST food. I either order the chocolate chip pancakes or chocolate chip french toast (do you see a theme that I love chocolate?) and they are SO good. They have specials each summer that keep up with the trends (hint: avocado toast) and always have fresh and delicious toppings for their pancakes and french toast. Pictured are the chocolate chip pancakes with my Pinkly Perfect Keychain in the background 🙂

29th Street Deli and Grill: Attached to Avalon Supermarket, the 29th Street Deli and Grill has the best breakfast sandwiches and lunch options! My mom and I always split a bacon, egg and cheese on a (sandwich-sized) english muffin. Pro tip: call ahead so you can just pick it up and not have to wait! I also highly recommend the Mediterranean Flattite for lunch, which is hummus, roasted red peppers, feta, and avocado on a grilled flatbread. I always try to show off my Pinkly Perfect bracelet while getting the perfect food shot of stacks of sandwiches. They always look so appetizing and do so well on Instagram.

Whitebrier: If you are looking for a delicious dinner, I love the Whitebrier. With endless options from sushi to burgers, everyone can find something they enjoy. I typically order sushi, but couldn’t resist getting the truffle parm fries after seeing them walk by my table countless times.

Kohler’s Bakery: If you are looking for the best donuts or sticky buns on the island, this is the place. Luckily my house is on the same street, so it’s super convenient to get to. The lines are always massive, but it’s worth it and they have their process down! My favorite thing to get is the chocolate cruller. I like asking for my treats in a box, as opposed to a bag, because it’s easier to get the perfect shot with everything at once.

The pink ribbon is one of the most recognizable images for breast cancer awareness. Being that we’re in the middle of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we’d dive deeper into the story behind the iconic image now featured on everything from print advertisements to kitchen appliances to jewelry to football fields.

Let’s go back to 1979, when the first use of a ribbon was used publicly to raise awareness for a cause. Penney Laingen tied yellow ribbons around trees in her yard to signal to her a husband, a hostage taken in Iran, to come home. Actor Jeremy Irons then wore a red ribbon during the Tony Awards to raise awareness for AIDS. In fact, TheNew York Times declared 1992 “The Year of the Ribbon” when almost every charitable cause adopted a ribbon.

It was Charlotte Haley, a breast cancer survivor, who created the original breast cancer ribbon in 1991. Except, it wasn’t pink. Haley hand made peach ribbons and attached them to a postcard reading, “The National Cancer Institute’s annual budget is 1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.” Girl boss much? You bet!

Charlotte Haley, the creator of the “original” pink ribbon (except hers was peach).

So now you’re wondering—how did this peach ribbon become pink? Self had heard of Haley’s efforts (she had distributed thousands of ribbons) and approached her about using the image in their second annual Breast Cancer Awareness issue. Marketing executives Alexandra Penney and then editor-in-chief, Evelyn Lauder saw major potential in branding this image. Haley, however, thought their idea was too corporate and turned it down. Self’s legal counsel advised that if they changed the color, they wouldn’t need Haley’s approval to use her idea. So, they changed it to that soft pretty pink we now associate with breast cancer awareness.

The bubble gum pink ribbons were then given to participants in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s New York City Race for the Cure and were distributed at Estée Lauder counters. Along with the 1.5 million ribbons Estée Lauder gave out, there was also a breast self-exam card, and every person who took a ribbon had their name on a petition that got sent to the White House to ask for an increase in funding for breast cancer research.

Pie-baking, sweater-wearing, blanket-snuggling, steamy mug-sipping, pumpkin picking. Of the many fall activities that make this season the coziest, consuming anything with apples in it is certainly at the top of our list. Be it in pie, cake, tart, cider, or donuts, APPLE is undoubtedly our favorite fruit flavor of the season!

That’s why we developed our own Pinkly Perfect version of Apple Sangria to enjoy on a crisp fall day with friends. If, like us, you look forward all year to a crisp October day spent visiting an orchard, surrounded by vibrant foliage and fellow sweater-clad folks carrying apple-grabbing poles and barrels to overfill with fresh apples until they’re too heavy to carry, we have JUST the treat for you to enjoy using your seasonal bounty.

Go ahead and soak in the warm sun and cool air, bounce around on a hayride, laugh with your gals as you compete in a cider donut-eating contest, and then retire to your cozy living room with our delicious Pink Sangria and a fun game! Whipping up this cocktail is easy as pie (scratch that, it’s MUCH easier than pie), and can be made as a single serving or in a pitcher for a group (multiply recipe by number of people.) While hard cider and fresh apple juice ground this sangria with a tart, crisp taste of Autumn, the infusion of raspberry adds a delicious sweetness that makes this drink unique. And of course, the resulting pink color keeps the Pinkly Perfect girl in us smiling.

It’s no secret that pumpkin-flavored treats are highly coveted this time of year, and their annual emergence is something we unabashedly look forward to. The anticipation that builds all year for a flavor of beverages, snacks, and desserts that is only available for a small window of time is exciting!

While Starbucks advertises their beloved PSL with lots of flair and Trader Joe’s has an entire section of their store dedicated to pumpkin-flavored goodies (which are quite delicious!), you may not realize that some of your favorite Jersey Shore ice cream parlors bring this flavor to their menus once the summer has ended! We’ve rounded up all the best spots to score pumpkin ice cream the next time you’ll be spending a fall day enjoying the shore this month. Cozying up in your favorite Pinkly Perfect sweatshirt and enjoying this seasonal treat with a great book on the beach sounds like an ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon to us.

Autumn is finally here! Sweater weather has us all excited, as does the one thing you can’t have a PSL without: Pumpkins! Big, small, or in between, decorating pumpkins is one of the best ways to start embracing the new fall season. Whether you’re ready to start getting into the Halloween spirit or searching for the perfect Thanksgiving decor, these pretty pink pumpkins are a great way to add a little flair to any space!

How pretty and unique is this table setting? Picture from Oh Happy Day!

Hosting a fall fest for your BFFs? This pumpkin centerpiece is an easy DIY that packs a huge punch! Find the instructions (along with some adorable table setting ideas) here at Oh Happy Day.

If you haven’t noticed, we hereat Pinkly Perfectlove the beach (like, a lot!). However… We’re not fans of fifty degree beach days. Fortunately, even though we can’t be where the sun meets the sea, this pineapple pumpkin from Studio DIY reminds us that it’s never too chilly for a sunshine state of mind!

Photo from Twinspiration.

Easy? Check. Budget-friendly? Check. Gorgeous? Check! While these pumpkins may look super-expensive, they’re actually simple to make and won’t break the bank! All you need is paint, tissue paper, and Mod Podge – find the instructions here from Twinspiration.

Yum! These pumpkins from Studio DIY are giving us all sorts of cravings.

These tiny pumpkins (donuts?) look good enough to eat! Make them yourself or host a painting party with your besties – find the recipe here at Studio DIY!

We’re loving how unique this pumpkin is. Picture and DIY instructions from A Beautiful Mess.

Even if you’re not the most artistic (because, let’s be real, some days it’s hard to even draw a straight line), you can absolutely whip up a few fabric paint pumpkins anytime! We’ll be surprised if you can restrain yourself to just making one or two. Find the instructions here at A Beautiful Mess!